July doesn’t have the extreme crowds we see in late December and the peak wait times aren’t as high as we see for Easter or Spring Break, but the 31 days of July represent the largest crowds we see for any one month of year. The Touringplans.com Disney World Crowd Calendar shows no July day less than a ‘6’ out of ‘10’ on its scale.

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Celebrating July 4th at Disney World

Magic Kingdom (and sometimes Epcot) usually closes due to capacity crowds on July 4th. If you want to experience the fireworks extravaganza make sure to arrive early and plan to stay all day. If you leave the park for a break it may be impossible to get back in.

The fireworks show on July 3rd is identical to that which guests see on July 4th but it is much less likely that the park reaches capacity on July 3rd. If you want to see the fireworks but don’t wish to battle capacity crowds, July 3rd is a better option.

No Schools in Session So Every Day is Busy

During some seasons of the year crowds fluctuate day-to-day based on school schedules, holidays or day of the week - but not in July. Crowds in July are intense and since most schools are not in session there is little fluctuation from day-to-day.

The golden rules for theme park touring still hold true in July though. Arrive early, have a plan, take an afternoon break to avoid the hottest and most crowded part of the day and return refreshed in the evening. The parks are open earlier and close later in July than in any other month.

Dealing with Summer Thunderstorms

The only sure things in life are death and taxes - and maybe summer thunderstorms in central Florida. Many guests will head for the parking lot when the storm hits but our advice is to take shelter and wait it out. Better yet, find the nearest indoor attraction or show and wait while being entertained. The storms are often short-lived and once they pass you’ll find the crowds to be a little lighter.